Nebraska consumption tax — ‘EPIC Option' — won't be considered in 2025 legislative session
LINCOLN — The conservative grassroots efforts for an 'EPIC' rewrite of Nebraska's tax code, to eliminate all taxes in place of consumption taxes, will skip the Legislature this year.
State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering, the heir to the 'EPIC Option' effort long carried by term-limited former State Sens. Steve Erdman of Bayard and Steve Halloran of Hastings, filed Tuesday to withdraw Legislative Resolution 10CA and LR 11CA, two related constitutional amendments, and Legislative Bill 331, aimed at adopting the 'Nebraska EPIC Option Consumption Tax Act.'
Supporters of the effort have fallen short in the Legislature and through signature-gathering efforts. Still, they are determined to reach voters for whether property, income and corporate taxes — and miscellaneous taxes like the inheritance tax — should go away by Jan. 1, 2028.
Grocery items purchased for off-premises consumption would not be taxed through LR 11CA, while LR 10CA would prohibit all taxes except retail consumption taxes and excise taxes.
In Nebraska, all bills and constitutional amendments get a public hearing, unlike many other state legislatures.
Hardin, speaking with the Nebraska Examiner on Tuesday, said the need for hearings complicated the timing for EPIC in the 2025 legislative session. He awaits a dynamic study on EPIC.
'We just learned yesterday it's not going to be done until late April,' Hardin said Tuesday. 'I can't get the data that I need to get through everything.'
Hardin's legislation had not yet been scheduled for a public hearing before the Revenue Committee. Public hearings end in late March.
By withdrawing the proposals, Hardin or another senator would need to reintroduce them in January 2026, for a chance to appear on the November 2026 ballot. The three withdrawal motions will go to a procedural vote of the full Legislature later this session.
Erdman, who passed the EPIC mantle to Hardin, said in January that 'big, bold changes' take time and that 'EPIC is alive and well.' Erdman said the next effort would be 'far more involved,' with a specific plan to reach the ballot.
In a text Tuesday, Erdman said that withdrawing the bills won't impact the movement's future.
'Going forward, we will have a whole new look,' Erdman said in January. 'I think it'll be an opportunity for the Nebraska people that are being taxed out of their homes and farms and businesses to understand that there's only one option, and that's to change the whole system.'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
13 minutes ago
- Axios
Texas law requiring Ten Commandments temporarily halted in some schools
A federal judge in San Antonio temporarily barred some school districts from implementing a Texas law requiring every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments. Why it matters: The ruling slows one of the nation's most aggressive pushes to mandate religious displays in public schools — setting up a likely First Amendment fight that could reach the Supreme Court. Catch up quick: The law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year, mandated a 16x20-inch Ten Commandments poster in every classroom and was set to take effect Sept. 1. Sixteen Texas families from San Antonio, Austin, Houston and elsewhere — backed by the American Civil Liberties Union — sued in July to stop it, naming 11 school districts, including Alamo Heights, Northside, Northeast and Lackland ISDs. Caveat: U.S. District Judge Fred Biery's order only blocks the law in the 11 districts named in the lawsuit — in the Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas areas — not statewide. What they're saying: Biery wrote that the law would likely result in unconstitutional religious coercion. "The displays are likely to pressure the child-Plaintiffs into religious observance, meditation on, veneration, and adoption of the State's favored religious scripture, and into suppressing expression of their own religious or nonreligious background and beliefs while at school," he wrote. "Children's religious beliefs should be instilled by parents and faith communities, not politicians and public schools," San Antonio plaintiff Rabbi Mara Nathan said in a statement. The other side: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told CBS he would appeal the ruling. "The Ten Commandments are a cornerstone of our moral and legal heritage, and their presence in classrooms serves as a reminder of the values that guide responsible citizenship," Paxton said in a statement. Texas will always defend our right to uphold the foundational principles that have built this nation, and I will absolutely be appealing this flawed decision."
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Judge blocks Beto O'Rourke from financially supporting Texas Democrats who left the state
Former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke cannot financially support Texas Democrats who left the state to delay passage of a new congressional map, a Tarrant County judge ruled Friday evening. O'Rourke and his political group, Powered by People, were sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Friday afternoon. Paxton argued that the group was deceptively fundraising for and illegally helping support Texas Democrats as they fanned out to Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to deny the House the headcount needed to pass legislation. Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey granted Paxton's request for a temporary injunction, barring O'Rourke and Powered by People from fundraising for the Democrats or spending money to cover their expenses. The order came less than four hours after Paxton's office filed the petition. Fahey, a Republican, was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2019 and has twice been reelected to the bench. In her ruling, Fahey agreed with Paxton's contention that Powered by People engaged in false, misleading or deceptive fundraising practices, and by distributing funds to Texas Democrats, writing in the ruling that the group either 'directly violates or causes Texas Democratic Legislators' to violate state law and House procedures. The group cannot use political funds to pay for travel or accommodations for 'unexcused Texas legislators during any special legislative session called by the Texas Governor as consideration for a violation of such legislators' Constitutional duties.' O'Rourke filed his own lawsuit against Paxton Friday in El Paso district court. He alleged that the attorney general was engaging in a 'fishing expedition, constitutional rights be damned,' and asked the judge to block Paxton's investigation into the organization's practices. In a statement responding to the injunction, O'Rourke said Paxton was trying to 'make examples out of those who fight so that others won't.' 'Paxton is trying to shut down Powered by People, one of the largest voter registration organizations in the country, because our volunteers fight for voting rights and free elections, the kind of work that threatens the hold that Paxton, [President Donald] Trump and Abbott have on power in Texas,' O'Rourke said. Paxton responded on social media: 'Cry more, lib.' The lawsuit against O'Rourke and his group is part of a larger effort to drag Democratic lawmakers back to Texas. President Donald Trump demanded that Texas redraw its congressional map to yield five additional seats to shore up the GOP's slim majority in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterms. With few tools to stop the map's passage through the Republican-dominated Legislature, Democrats called on their one failsafe, leaving the state to deny quorum, or the minimum number of members required for the chamber to function. Typically, the majority party issues arrest warrants for the absentee members — which can only be enforced within state lines — and waits until quorum is restored. But this time, Republicans have gone on the offensive, filing lawsuits to cut off financial support; asking Illinois courts to enforce Texas' civil warrants; investigating members and donors for bribery; and, in an unprecedented move, asking the Texas Supreme Court to expel lawmakers who left. 'The Beto Bribe buyouts that were bankrolling the runaway Democrats have been officially stopped,' Paxton said in a statement. 'Today, I stopped his deceptive financial influence scheme that attempted to deceive donors and subvert our constitutional process. They told me to 'come and take it,' so I did.' Shape the future of Texas at the 15th annual , happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin! We bring together Texas' most inspiring thinkers, leaders and innovators to discuss the issues that matter to you. Get tickets now and join us this November. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Texas Democrats plot to stall redistricting effort until Epstein files released
Texas House Democrats on Wednesday plan to offer an amendment that would block a Republican redistricting effort until the complete release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Why it matters: The Democratic effort, which aims to put new political pressure on the Trump administration regarding his association with Epstein, is sure to fail in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Catch up quick: The disgraced financier died by suicide in 2019, but conspiracy theories have swirled about his relationships with powerful people — and what they knew about his sex trafficking. Earlier this month, a legal nonprofit sued the Trump administration for not releasing Epstein-related documents and requested them in an expedited manner. The big picture: The proposed redistricting was drawn at President Trump's urging and is an effort to boost GOP chances of retaining control of the U.S. House in the midterm elections. Driving the news: Texas Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat from Houston who led a group of more than 50 members who left the state to stall the vote, will introduce an amendment to the redistricting bill, per the House Democratic caucus. What they're saying:"This amendment forces Republicans to choose between their loyalty to Trump and their obligation to expose sexual predators," Wu said in a statement.
